King still filling in as judge
SCOTTDALE – He’s handed down thousands of sentences and presided over 400 weddings in the last 28 years he served as magisterial district judge, but while he recently retired, J. Bruce King is still making a “bench” mark. King, a senior judge, for the district court in Scottdale, officially departed in March, but will continue to wear his judicial robe rotating once a week with fellow senior district judges Martha Medich and Woody DelBene until his term expires in 2012 and a new district judge is elected. King has served as a judge since 1982 while his initial experience in law enforcement began in 1974 as borough police officer also working part-time in Upper Tyrone Township.
“I was ambitious and wanted to make my mark doing something for the public,” said King.
A native of Scottdale, King is a 1963 graduate of Connellsville Joint High School.
Over the course of his tenure, King recalled how technology has changed in the court system.
“Before we did everything manually,” said King.
With the improvement of court security, however, King said video conferencing has enabled magisterial judges to arraign or hold hearings with defendants from secure locations within central booking centers, local police departments, jails, state police barracks and state and county correctional institutions instead of having a constable, sheriff or police officer transport them to court.
King stressed how such technology has improved defendant processing and helped reduce transportation costs.
Throughout his career, King recalled his most unusual case involved the events surrounding the murder of a local woman buried in the woods.
“Back then the media was not as open as it is now,” said King.
With a fifth grandchild on the way, King said he and his wife are looking forward to spending more time with their family as well as visit those they haven’t seen in years.
“You know when it’s time (to retire),” said King. “I’m still in good health and want to enjoy my grandkids and travel.”